Grand National winner, Olympian and Irish riding legend Eddie Harty dies aged 88

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Grand National-winning jockey Eddie Harty, the only Olympic competitor to win the world’s most famous steeplechase, has died aged 88.

Harty, whose wife Patricia died only last week, was a member of one of Ireland’s most distinguished racing dynasties, with both his grandfather and father prominent figures in the sport. His son Eddie and grandson Patrick continue the legacy by holding a joint-training licence based in the Curragh. 

• Eddie Harty obituary: from cowboy duties in the US to becoming the only Olympian to have landed the Grand National 

Eddie Harty jnr said: "He did an awful lot in his life and he never let us forget it! He did a lot for the industry, too, which a lot of people might not have known about. It was probably a bit unsung but he did so much for the industry.

"It's uncanny that he died so quickly after Mum. They were inseparable. My wife's sister Valerie said it was the most romantic thing she had ever heard that he went so quickly after her. His heart was broken."

Harty carved out a career across varied equine disciplines at the highest level, from Aintree glory to the Olympic arena in Rome.

He rode point-to-point winners in Ireland before partnering his first winner under rules in Britain in an amateur riders’ chase at Newton Abbot in September 1953. Adventurous by nature, he briefly stepped away from racing to spend two years working as a cowboy in the US, returning home to resume a varied equestrian career that combined race-riding, show jumping and three-day eventing.

In 1960, he represented Ireland in the three-day event at the Olympic Games in Rome, finishing ninth individually and sixth in the team competition – an achievement that would later add a unique footnote to his racing career.

After Rome, Harty focused on professional race-riding in Britain, where he spent the next decade. He enjoyed notable success, including victory in the 1965 Topham Chase at Aintree on Hopkiss for Alec Kilpatrick. Four years later, he won the same race again on Dozo for trainer Toby Balding, a triumph that would prove pivotal.

When Owen McNally was ruled out of the 1969 Grand National with a broken elbow, Balding turned to the 32-year-old Irishman to partner Highland Wedding, a three-time Eider Chase winner. Sent off at 100-9, Highland Wedding was overlooked in the betting, with the 1968 winner Red Alligator starting favourite. 

Eddie Harty and Highland Wedding return after winning the 1969 Grand NationalCredit: Getty Images

Red Alligator fell at the 19th fence and confusion reigned when BBC viewers were informed Highland Wedding had also come down. In fact, the 12-year-old had survived a mistake and galloped on strongly to win by 12 lengths from Steel Bridge.

Among Harty's other major successes were the 1968 Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Jupiter Boy after a stirring duel with future Grand National winner Specify, the Welsh Grand National the same year on Glenn, and the Oteley Hurdle at 50-1 aboard Into View. In total, he rode 268 winners in Britain. His career in the saddle was cut short by injuries sustained in a fall at Cheltenham in December 1971.

Returning to Ireland, Harty turned to training at Strawhall House on the Curragh. He enjoyed success on the Flat and over jumps, winning the St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury with Haraka in 1976 and landing the Greenland Stakes at the Curragh the following year with Balgaddy, who later demonstrated his versatility by winning the Huzzar Hurdle at Fairyhouse. 

Harty won the Irish Cambridgeshire twice, with Persian Royale in 1983 and Jonjas Chudleigh in 1990, the latter also capturing the Old Vic Handicap in the same season. Other notable victories included the Leopardstown November Handicap with Pylon Sparks in 1988, as well as jumps successes with Smartside and Writer’s Quay. He retired from training in 1995. 

Fittingly, his final runner and winner, This Is My Life, scored in a maiden hurdle at Roscommon in September that year, ridden by a young Tony McCoy.

Harty jnr said: "The one thing Dad always wanted to be was remembered for doing things for the industry and I think he can rest in peace knowing he did that."

Harty is survived by his children Eddie, Eoin and Freda, daughters-in-law Marie and Kathy, son-in-law Paul, grandchildren Nick, Gerard, Patrick, Carolyn and Eddie, and great-granddaughter Anabelle.

He will lie in repose in Anderson & Leahy’s Funeral Home, Henry Street, Newbridge, on Friday, February 13 from 4pm until 7pm with prayers at 6.30pm. Removal on Saturday morning at 10.30am to arrive at St. Conleth’s Parish Church for 11am mass. Mass can be viewed on https://newbridgeparish.ie/parish-church. Funeral afterwards to St. Conleth’s Cemetery Newbridge.